Top 10 plays

The Raiders’ 20-17 stunner over the Bengals was blacked out on local television, and only seen in person by an announced 34,112 — the smallest Coliseum crowd since Christmas Eve 1967.

Here are the top 10 things I liked, obvious ESPN highlights aside.

1. Quarterback Bruce Gradkowski on the game-tying 2-minute drill.

Not just because he stared down Darren McFadden on a sideline go route, pump faked then hurled a touchdown to his second read — Louis Murphy on the other side of the field.

But, because he kept his composure on two 4th and 10 throws in a row — the first on a 16-yard pass to Chaz Schilens with 59 seconds left to keep the drive alive at the Bengals’ 29.

I almost liked the next drive as much, when a live ref’s mic caught Gradkowski screaming in the ref’s face, “What happened?!?” after a Bengals timeout. That’s the sort of fire and passion JaMarcus Russell never showed.

2. Defensive end Greg Ellis, 34, hustling 39 yards downfield to recover a fumble, forced by strong safety Tyvon Branch on a blitz/sack/forced fumble, then fumbled again by middle linebacker Kirk Morrison after his own 8-yard return.

Ellis is coming off knee and shoulder surgeries. He admits to not being 100 percent. Yet there he was, running with all he had left. That was the first turnover created in Raiders territory, just inside the second quarter.

3. Defensive end Jay Richardson reeling in former Chiefs nemesis Larry Johnson from behind for a 3-yard loss in the second quarter.

Richardson took over running downs when Pro Bowler Richard Seymour left the game after one series with a lower back strain and didn’t return. Relegated to occasional playing time, Richardson responded with six tackles — including one for a 4-yard loss on an end around.

4. Wide receiver Chaz Schilens going up on the run for a high two-handed grab between two defenders on a deep slant and 25-yard gain on the team’s first touchdown drive.

No one on this roster goes up and uses his hands like Schilens. He had two catches for 41 yards playing 47 of 58 snaps. In comparison, the other starter, Darrius Heyward-Bey, had one third-quarter catch for 7 yards and a two-handed drop.

Schilens later ran down Frostee Rucker and broke through a tackle for a stop from behind on a fumble return at the Raiders’ 13. He was the last chance to stop a touchdown for a 21-10 lead. The Bengals settled four plays later for a field goal.

5. Branch sprawling sideways to knock down a touchdown throw to Laverneaus Coles during a third-quarter goal-line stand. Branch had 12 tackles and two quarterback hits.

Miss, and the Bengals are up 21-10 early in the second half and ready to roll. Instead, they added nothing to a four-point lead because …

6. Cornerback Stanford Routt knocked the Bengals out of chipshot range with an 18-yard sack on 3rd and goal from the 1-yard line.

Routt came in on a corner blitz and was right there when Carson Palmer turned into him on a play-action fake. Three plays earlier, Routt drilled Palmer in the helmet on a third-and-goal blitz.

The flag gave Cincinnati a new set of downs. His wrapup sack made up for it, with the Bengals then missing a 37-yard field goal.

7. Defensive coordinator John Marshall going with at least 10 blitzes despite the early returns.

The first-half results on a blitz: 17-yard pass, 15-yard pass, 11-yard audible run and a sack/fumble recovery.

The Bengals opened the second half with a 61-yard run on a corner blitz, putting them in the goal-line sequence mentioned above. Instead of dialing it down, Marshall called three blitzes in a six-plau sequence from inside the 10.

Uncharacteristic, and by design. Nnamdi Asomugha said afterward it went against all their tendencies in that situation, which may be why it worked so well.

8. Strongside linebacker Sam Williams popping the ball loose from Bengals running back Bernard Scott at the Raiders 14 early in the fourth quarter.

Williams made his first start since Sept. 30 last season. Relegated to special teams since 2007, Williams started when Jon Alston came down with an illness that put him on the inactive list.

Williams also matched Brian Leonard stride for stride on a diving sideline breakup on 3rd and 4 from the Raiders’ 48 just before the Raiders’ game-tying drive in the final 2:12. Come up short, and the Bengals can milk enough clock to force Oakland to burn its two remaining timeouts.

He can expect more playing time, especially with Alston getting two concussions in a month. Former starter Ricky Brown was placed on the Injured Reserve list, seven weeks after breaking his ankle against the Giants.

9. Raiders coach Tom Cable going for the jugular on the first play of a drive that started at the Bengals’ 43 with 6:08 left in the game.

McFadden picked up the middle blitz. Murphy beat Johnathan Joseph on a deep route. The touchdown was there if Gradkowski gets the ball to Murphy’s back shoulder.

Left tackle Mario Henderson was the only one who didn’t do his job. He got beat on the edge, and Gradkowski was blasted from behind as he released. Joseph intercepted the flutter ball. Still, a strong call.

10. Rookie tight end Brandon Myers going for the kickoff turnover when the safe bet was to make the sure tackle and hope to win the overtime toss.

Andre Caldwell made a move on Myers and seemed to have him juked. Only, Myers noticed the ball was hanging out on his side so he jabbed at it as he fell down, then pounced on it at the 17 with 27 seconds left in the tied game.

On a day former teammate Marquis Cooper was honored with his family in the stands, this was as fitting as happy endings get.